RPS MS 398

Catalogue of the Society’s music library; compiled 1913[?], with additions and annotations to 1947. A single alphabetical composer sequence, set out on specially printed paper with columns for composer, work, full score and 26 headed columns allowing for a detailed list of orchestral parts. Numbers from the 19th-century catalogues are not given, though in some instances there are shelf-marks or other indications of location. Used as an inventory and initialled by W[illiam] W[allace] when the scores were transferred to the Royal Academy of Music in 1926 (see note f. 7v), and with entries by D[avid] R[itson] S[mith] for further items moved there in 1947 (see further note on f. 7v). Location of items either at the Royal Academy of Music or the British Museum has been noted in pencil against the entries up to Moszkowski (see note on f. 93r). The hand of the principal copyist is similar to that in Birket Foster’s catalogue of the letters received, etc. (RPS MSS 403-404), but this must be assumed to be the ‘Catalogue of Scores and Orchestral Parts in the Library compiled in 1913 by [W. P.] Rivers’ listed in RPS MS 405, f. 57, and described there as ‘In Use’.

ff. i + 202. 325 x 205mm. Bound in full leather, spine lettered ‘Catalogue. Philharmonic Society.’

William Wallace, composer; Secretary, Philharmonic Society: W. P. Rivers, librarian, Philharmonic Society: David Ritson Smith, Secretary, Royal Philharmonic Society: Catalogue of the library of the Royal Philharmonic Society, presumed to be compiled by W. P. Rivers; initialled by William Wallace, and with entries by David Ritson Smith: 1913[?]-1947.